Wrap-around garment



April 10,1945. A. QUINN WRAP-AROUND GARMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 10, 1941 April 10, 194 5. A. QUINN WRAP-AROUND GARMENT Filed Oct. 10, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 cmzwi A. QUINN April 10, 1945.

WRAP-AROUND GARMENT Filed Oct. 10, 1 941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 10', 1945. A. QUINN 2,373,415

WRAP-AROUND GARMENT Filed Oct. 10, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 10, 1945 UNITE STATES PATEN" orric WRAP-AROUND GARMENT Ada Quinn, Ogden, Utah Application October 10, 1941, Serial No. 414,543 10 Claims. (on. 2-14! This invention relates to improvements in garments for women's personal wear, and more particularly to clothing of the wrap-around or Hoover type which may be used either as dresses or as slip-over garments to protect underneath dresses.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a garment. of this character, capable of being put on and removed with facility and presenting a neat and attractive appearance, which embodies a novel form of skirt construction ensuring adequate coverage for the person of the wearer in any position which she may assume when working about the house.

where both of the strings may be secured together in a bow or.any other desired manner.

In order to prevent the relatively narrow underlapping skirt section from dropping or falling away from the front of the body when the wearer stoops, kneels or sits, it is provided with an adits base forming a continuation of the upper or Another objectis to provide an improved construction for the 'underlapping portion of the skirt of a Hoover type garment which holds said portion in proper position on the body of the wearer to prevent exposure even when the wearer stoops, kneels or sits down.

. A further objectis the provision of a new skirt structure for a wrap-around garment wherein a good fit and proper concealment for the limbs of the wearer are obtained with substantially less yardage of material than would be required for like results in'similar garments of known design.

In order to attain these and'other objects ,which will appear more fully from the following detailed disclosure, the garment of the present invention is so constructed that the skirt portion. thereof is formed with a pair of lapping sections of difierent sizes which, when adjusted'to the body of the wearer, fold one over the other in such a manner that, while the overlapping section covers substantially the entire width of the body from hip to hip, the underlapping section may be substantially narrowerthan the latter, in some cases extending only to or slightlybeyond the center line of the garment. The upper or waist portion of the garment, to which the skirt is sewn at the waistline either with orwithout a belt or yoke, may open from the neck to the waistline in any suitable manner, and may be provided either with a pair of tie members or strings attached to the free edges thereof adjacent the waistline, or with buttons and buttonholes, for securing the garment in place upon the body of the wearer. When tie strings are used, the string connected to that portion of the waist to which the underlapping skirt section is secured is adapted to pass around in front of the body, beneath the overlapping section, and then out through a hole or other opening located in or near the under-arm seam, while the string associated with the overlapping section passes around the body on the 3 as they appear after'beingsewn together, but

outside of the garment to the center of the back 55 waistline edge of the skirt. If desired, the adjusting element may also be made in the form of a strap secured at its lower end to the free edge of the underlappingskirt section at a point inter- I mediate the length thereof and at its upper end to the waist portion of the garment at a point spaced from the top corner of the skirt. With either of these constructions, the adjusting element acts as a tension member which applies a diagonally directed force to the edgeof the underlappingskirt section which is effective to hold the latter in its proper forward position, even when the wearer bends over.

Although it will be obvious that the novel asters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of Hoover type dress embodying the present inven-- tion as it would appear when being worn;

Fig. 2 is another perspective view ofthe garment of Fig. 1, but withthe tie members undone and the overlapping portions of the dress-extended outwardly so as tobetter illustrate the construction. of the underlapping skirt and adjusting sections;

Fig. 3 is a view showing the pattern or shapes of two pieces of material from which the underlapping skirt and adjusting sections of Figs. 1 and 2 may be made, and indicating in broken lines the additional material that would be required in a wrap-around dress of conventional design;

Fig. 4 is a view showing the two sections of Fig.

prior to'assemblywith the other parts of the dress;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar-toms. 3 and 4 of a modified construction embodying an adjusting section of different shape;

Fig. 7 is'a perspective view similar to Fig. 2 of another form of garment embodying the invention, having a somewhat-wider underlapping skirt section and an adjusting element of the strap type, and'employing b ttons instead of tie membars for fastening the arment in wearing posie tion upon the body of the-wearer; I

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 5 showing the pattern of the underlapping skirt section and adjusting strap of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view similar to Figs. 2 and 7 of still another embodiment of the invention, this garment having a relatively narrow underlapping skirt section and tie members like that of Fig. 2, but combined with a strap type adjusting. element; and I Fig-10 is a view similar to Figs. 3, 5 and 8 showing the pattern of the underlapping skirt section and adjusting strap of Fig. 9.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the arment shown therein is a Hoover type dress having an upper portion or waist comprising a back sections of garments of the wrap-around type hitherto known inthat it covers substantially less than half of the frontal area of the skirt, instead of being approximately the same size as the overlapping skirtsection l1, and is provided with an auxiliary 0i" supplementary adjusting section 28 An adjusting section of the type shown in Figs. I

1 and 2 may. be formed and connected to the underlapping skirt section in various ways, two

examples of which have been illustrated in Figs. 3-6 of the accompanying drawings. 7

In the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4, the adjusting section 28 is approximately tapezoidal in shape prior to its assembly with the underlapping skirt section It, and may advantageously be cut out of the same piece of material as the lattion II, a pair of front sections i2 and I3 and short sleeves I4, and a lower portion or skirt ter in such a manner that the upper edge 21 of 3 larly to the opposite edge 3| which is adapted to a sash-like piece or yoke portion 19 which extends across the entire front of the dress at the waistline, and to the lower edge of which is sewn 40 the overlapping skirt section II, the latter also being of suilicient width to extend from hip to hip. Secured to the free edges of yoke portion- I! and underlapping waist section l3- are a pair of tie members or strings 20 and 2!, respectively, which are adapted to encircle the body of the wearer and to be adjustably secured together in the center of the back by a bow or knot 22, .or in any other desired manner. Inasmuch as the tie member 2| is secured to a portion of the waist which is overlapped by the yoke portion is when the dress is dooned, a suitable opening 23, is provided, preferably in the seam between the back section Ii and front section I201 the waist, through which the end of said tie member may be passed inorder to meet with the tie member 20 at the back of the garment.

Although the button 18 and tie members 20- and 2i are adequate to retain the garment in proper position when the wearer stands erect, the appearance of the dress may be enhanced and the overlapping skirt section II more positively be sewn to one of the longitudinal side edges of the rear skirt section IS. The other side edge32' of the adjusting section is also preferably straight, diverges slightly from,the opposite edge 23, and is of a length slightly more than half that of the free edge 30 'of the underlapping skirt section. For best results, it is preferable that the side edge 32 of the adjusting section be cut straight/with respective to the texture of the material, rather than on the'bias. The. fourth edge 33 of the adjusting section is cut at an angle to edges 29 and 32, and is either straight or curved, corresponding tional buttons 25 sewn to the rear section P5 of adjusting and skirt sections are sewn togetherin the manner indicated in Fig. 4.

After the underlapping skirt section 16 and adjusting section 26 have been cut out in the fiat in the patterns shown in Fig. 3, they are secured together by first sewing the edge 29 of the adjusting section to the upper portion of the edge 30 of the skirt section, and then moving the edge 33 over into coincidence with, and sewing it to, the edge 30. In joining the edges 33 and 38, top edge 21 of the adjusting section is pulled downwardly, as indicated in Fig. 4, so that it is no longer a direct prolongation of the edge 28 of the skirt section i6. However, when the edges 21 and 28 are then united with the regular-bottom or waistline edge of waist section l3, the edge 21 is again elevated until it becomes an arcuate prolongation of the edge 28, v at which time, because of the connection between the edges 33 and 30, the bottom portion of the free edge 30 of the skirt section is automatically brought forward and upward toward the center line of the dress. I

The angularity between the edges 33 and 30 before they are joined, or the width of the inverted dart which is taken out between these be varied in accordance with the extent to which it is desired that the lower end of the free edge.

30 of the skirt section should be Pulled toward the center line of the garment out of what would otherwise be its normal, straight hanging position. The length of the adjusting section is also variable, although the most satisfactory results are attained when the adjusting section extends to a point below the middle of the free edge 30 of the underlapping skirt section.

When the dress is then donned by the wearer, and properly adjusted and secured in wearing position by means of the tie members 20 and 2| and the buttons I8, 24, and 25, in the manner illustrated in Fig. l,' the adjusting section -26 acts as a sort of tension member interposed between the bottom edge of the waist section [3 and the free edge 30 of the underlapping skirt section I6, exerting a diagonally directed force upon the latter which serves to hold it in the desired forward position and to prevent its falling back-.

wardly as the wearer moves about and assumes various postures which would otherwise tend to cause the skirt to drop open.

' The construction illustrated in Figs. -5 and 6 embodies an underlapping skirt section [6 of the same shape and size as that shown in Figs. 3 and 4, but difiers from the showing of the latter in that the adjusting section 26' is generally tritogether as indicated in Fig. 6, the adjusting forces are exerted along a greater portion of the length of the edge 30 of the skirt section than is the case with the first construction. Forming the adjusting section in the manner i1- lustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 thus results in a slight ly smoother setting garment than is produced with an adjusting section of the character shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring now to Fig. 7, the garment illustrated therein differs from that of Figs. 1 and 2 both in the construction of the underlapping skirt section and adjusting element and in the means for securing the dress in wearing position; the

' waist portion of the dress is also specifically different from that of the first embodiment.

As shown, the waist comprises a back section 34, a pair of lapping front sections 35 and 36 each of which has a diagonal edge extending substantially to the opposite under-arm seam when the garment is donned, short sleeves 31 and a collar 38. The threewaist sections are also provided with belt portions 39, 40 and 4!, respectively, to which in turn are sewn the rear section 42, front overlapping section 43 and front underlapping section 44 of the skirt. In order to secure the garment in wearing position upon the body of the-wearer, the belt portion 4| is provided with a buttonhole and button 46 adjacent its free end, and another button adjacent its opposite end, which buttonhole and buttons are adapted to cooperate with a button 48 and buttonholes 49 and 50, respectively, associated with the belt portion 40. The underlapping waist section 36 may also be provided with a button 5| adjacent the lower end of the collar 38 for cooperation with a buttonhole 52 formed in the overlapping waist section 35, so as to keep the garment closed at the neck. 7

As in the case of the garment of Figs. 1 and 2, the overlapping" skirt section 48 is of sufficient width to extend from hip to hip. The underlapping skirt section 44, while somewhat wider than the corresponding section I6 of the previously described embodiment, is still of substantially less width than the overlapp section 43, so that its upper edge 53, which is sewn to the belt section 41, terminates short of the free end of the latter, and its free side edge 54 lies beneath the overlappingsection intermediate. the side edges of the latter whenthe garment is worn.

Instead of sewing a solid piece of ,material to the free edge 54 of the underlapping skirt section 44 and to the bottom edge of beltsection M beyond the end of upper edge 53, similarly to the previously described structures, the adjusting element ofthis embodiment of the invention is formed as a strap 55 secured at its upper edge to belt section 41 adjacent the free end thereof, extending diagonally downwardly obliquely to the free edge 54 of the underlapping skirt section 44, and secured at its lower edge to said free edge at a point approximately halfway down the length of the latter. A strap of this-character, particularly if out straight of the material, constitutes an efiective tension member which prevents the underlapping skirt section from dropping away from the body of the wearer as she bends over or moves to other positions wherein the skirt would tend to fall open.

In Fig. 9 there i shown still another garment embodying the invention which is similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2 in that the underlapping skirt section is relatively quite narrow, covering only about half the frontal area of the body, and tie members are employed for securing the garment.

in wearing position, but differs therefrom in that the adjusting element is of the strap type similar to that shown in Fig. 7.

In the form illustrated, the waist portion of section 58 and t0 befastened thereto in any suittonhole at positioned adjacent the square-cut,

able manner, as by means of a button 63 and butneckline. The front waist section 51 is also provided with a belt or yoke portion 65 which extends across the entire front of the dress at the waistline, and to the lower edge of which is sewn the overlapping skirt. ection 6!, the latter also being of suflicient width to extend from hip to hip. Secured to the free edges of belt portion 55 and underlapping waist section 58 are a pair of tie members '56 and 51, respectively, which are adapted to encircle the body of the wearer and .to be adjustably secured together in the center and front section 51 of the waist, through which the end of said tie member may be passed in or- 1 minates short of the free edge of waist section.

58 so that its own free edge It lies beneath the ,asvaus der to meet with the tie member a at the back overlapping section adjacent the center line of the body when the garment is worn. with a garment of this construction, it has been found that the underlapping skirt section may be held in its proper position, in spite of its relatively narrow width, by means of an adjusting element in the form of a strap 1i secured at it upper edge to tie member 61 (which, in effect, constitutes a prolongation of the bottom part of underlapping waist section 58) and'at its lower edge to the vfree edge ll! of the under-lapping skirt section I 62 at a point about one-third of the way down the length of the latter. For most 'eflective results, it is preferable that the strap H be cut straight of the material.

It should be apparent from the foregoing disclosure that the present inventionprovides a new and improved construction for the skirts of garments or dresses of the wrap-around type which not only insures that the skirt will remain closed and adequately cover the person of the wearer at all times, but also attains thi result with substantially less material than is required for the skirt of wrap-around garments of known construction. In this latter connection, it will.

be seen from Figs. 3, 5, 8 and 10 that the total yardage of piece goods required for the adjusting and underlapping skirt sections of the preswearer assumes various postures consisting of a and secured adjacent the waist line of the garmade in the form. details of construction and arrangement of the several part of the garments to which the invention is directed without departing from the inventive concept. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of theinvention.

. This is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 358.035, filed September 23, 1940.

What is claimed is:

l. A garment of the wrap-around type comprising a waist ortion including a pair of waist sections, a skirt portion including a pair of sections secured at their upper edges to said pair of waist sections adjacent the waistline and adapted to be wrapped around the body of the wearer in overlapping relation, the overlapping section forming the front of said skirt portion and the underlapping section being of less width than said overlappin section so that its free side edge lies beneath the overlapping section intermediate the side edges of the latter when the garment is worn, means for fastening the garment in wearing position upon the body of the wearer, and means for preventing the free edge of said underlapping skirt. section from dropping away from its proper position when the piece of material secured to said free edge of the underlapping skirt section"at a substantial distance below the waistline and extending upwardly and obliquely away from said, free edge ment to that waist section to which said inderent invention is materially less than that which would be used for an underlapping skirt section of conventional design.

Although three specific forms of dress and four different examples of the adjusting section construction have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it will be obviou that "the invention is not limited to these particular structures, but is capable of a variety of mechanical embodiments. For example, while it is preferred to cut the adjusting element as a separate part of the garment and then sew it to the underlapping skirt section in the manner hereinbefore described, these two parts may also be cut in one piece with. one another (particularly when the adjusting element is of quadrilateral shape l ke that illustrated in Fig. 3) without in any way detracting from the effectivenes of the finished construction. In fact, the entire garment may be made in 'one piece, if desired. It will also be recognized that garments embodying the invenlapping skirt section is secured.

2. A garment bf the wrap-around type comthe garment is worn, means for fastening the garment in wearing position upon the body of the wearer, andmeans for preventing the free edge of said underlapping skirt section from dropping away from its proper position when the wearer assumes various postures consisting of an adjusting element having its upper edge secured to that waist section to which said undertion may be made of any suitable materials, and

are capable of innumerable variations in style and shape of both the walst and the skirt portions thereof. In the latter connection, it is obvious that the belt and yoke portion associated with the waists of the various embodiments illustrated can be omitted, if desired, and the skirt sections and tie members (or buttons, where used) sewn directly to the waist sections. Accordingly, the terms waist portion and waist section appearing in the appended claims will be understood to include the belt or yoke portions'when the latter are used, as well as those portions of 'tie members which function as belt or yoke portions, like the inner end of tie member 61 in the garment of Fig. 9 to which the adjusting strap is secured.

Various other changes, which will now suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, maybe "to said waist portion.

3. A garment of the wraparound type comprising a waist portion including a pair of waist sections, a skirt portion including a pair of sections secured at their upper edges to said pair of waist sections adjacent the waistline and adapted to be wrapped around the body of the wearer in overlapping relation, the overlapping section forming the front of said skirt portion and the under-lapping section being of less width than said overlapping section so that its free side edge lies beneath the overlapping section interment in wearing position upon the body of the wearer, and a tension member connecting at least onepoint on the free edge of said underlapping skirt section intermediate the length thereof with at least one point adjacent the waistline on that waist section to which said underlapping skirt section is secured but spaced from the points at which said underlapping section is secured there, to, said member extending obliquely between its points of connection to said underlapping skirt section and said waist section.

4- A garment of the wrap-around type comprising a waist portion including apair of front sections separable down the front of the garment, one of said front waist sections being adapted to overlap at least the bottom portion of the second of said front waist sections when the garment is worn, a skirt portion including a pair of front sections adapted to overlap one another when the garment is worn, the overlapping skirt section being secured at its upper edge to said first front waist section and forming the front of said skirt portion, the underlapping skirt section being secured at its upper V edge to said second front waist section but of 'insufiicient width to extend to the free edge of mediate the length thereof, said element extend-l ing obliquely between said points of connection to said waist section and underlapping skirt section.

5. A garment of the wrap-around type comprising a waist portion including a pair of front sections separable down the front of the garment, one of said front waist sections being adapted to overlap at least the bottom portion of the second ,of said front waist sections when the garment is worn, a skirt portion including a pair of frontsections adapted to overlap one another when the garment is worn, the overlapping skirt section being secured at its upper edge to said iirst front waist section and forming the front of said skirt portion, the underlapping skirt section being secured at its upper edge to said second front waist section but of less width than said overlapping skirt section so that its free side edge lies beneath the overlapping section intermediate the side edges of the latter when the garment is worn, means including a pair of tie members associated with said front waist sections for fastening the garment in wearing position upon the body of the wearer, and means for to the tie member associated with the underlap-' ping waist section and at its lower end'to the free side edge of said underlapping skirt section at a point intermediate the length thereof, said element extending obliquely between its points of connection to said tie member and underlapping skirt section.

6.'In a garment of the wrap-around type, a skirt construction com-prising a pair of sections for attachment at their upper edges with a we st portion and adapted to be wrapped around the body of the wearer in overlapping relation, the overlapping section forming the front of the skirt, the underlapping section being of less width than said overlapping section so that its free vertical side edge lies beneath the overlapping section intermediate the side edges of the latter when the garment is worn. and an elongated adjusting element secured to the free edge of said underlapping section below its upper edge and having its upper end disposed beyond said free edge for attachment to said waist portion to ap ly obliquely directed force to said underlapping skirt section and maintain it in its proper position.

I wherein the adjusting element is substantially triangular in shape, having an edge secured to the free edge of the underlapping section.

9. A skirt construction according to claim 6 wherein the adjusting element consists of a strap secured at its lower end to and diverging upwardly away from the, free edge of the underlapping section- 10. A skirt construction according to claim 6 

